What does אָלָה (alah) mean in the Bible?
אָלָה (alah): Oath or curse involving self-imprecation—invoking divine punishment if one breaks covenant obligations
Hebrew · H423
אָלָה
An imprecation
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אָלָהH423
Pronunciationalah
What does אָלָה (alah) mean in the Bible?
אָלָה (alah): Oath or curse involving self-imprecation—invoking divine punishment if one breaks covenant obligations
Full entry for אָלָה (H423) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H423?
The BSB source-word alignment has 35 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include oath (4), the oath (3), to take an oath (3), a curse (2), an object of cursing (2).
Where does אָלָה (alah) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Genesis 24:41. Its strongest book concentrations include Deuteronomy (6), Ezekiel (5), Jeremiah (4), Numbers (4).
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders Itoath4×Deuteronomy 29:14, Deuteronomy 29:19, Nehemiah 10:29, Ezekiel 17:16
the oath3×Proverbs 29:24, Ezekiel 16:59, Ezekiel 17:18
to take an oath3×1 Kings 8:31, 2 Chronicles 6:22
a curse2×Isaiah 24:6, Jeremiah 29:18
an object of cursing2×Jeremiah 42:18, Jeremiah 44:12
curses2×Numbers 5:23, Deuteronomy 30:7
the curses2×Deuteronomy 29:21, 2 Chronicles 34:24
-1×Genesis 24:41
accursed1×Numbers 5:27
an attested1×Numbers 5:21
an oath1×Genesis 26:28
and into His oath1×Deuteronomy 29:12
charge1×Leviticus 5:1
curse1×Deuteronomy 29:20
cursing1×Psalms 10:7
from my oath1×Genesis 24:41
in the curses1×Psalms 59:12
is the curse1×Zechariah 5:3
My oath1×Ezekiel 17:19
of the curse1×Numbers 5:21
so the oath1×Daniel 9:11
the curse1×Jeremiah 23:10
under oath1×Ezekiel 17:13
with a curse1×Job 31:30
Show sample aligned rows
Genesis 24:41מֵאָ֣לָתִ֔יto-Preposition-m | Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singularGenesis 24:41מֵאָלָתִֽי׃tofrom my oathPreposition-m | Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singularGenesis 26:28אָלָ֛הtoan oathNoun - feminine singularLeviticus 5:1אָלָ֔הtochargeNoun - feminine singularNumbers 5:21הָאָלָה֒toof the curseArticle | Noun - feminine singularNumbers 5:21לְאָלָ֥הtoan attestedPreposition-l | Noun - feminine singularNumbers 5:23הָאָלֹ֥תtocursesArticle | Noun - feminine pluralNumbers 5:27לְאָלָ֖הtoaccursedPreposition-l | Noun - feminine singularDeuteronomy 29:12וּבְאָלָת֑וֹtoand into His oathConjunctive waw, Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singularDeuteronomy 29:14הָאָלָ֖הtooathArticle | Noun - feminine singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowGenesis 24:41
Aligned rows35
Books represented15
Genesis3Leviticus1Numbers4Deuteronomy61 Kings12 Chronicles3Nehemiah1Job1Psalms2Proverbs1Isaiah1Jeremiah4Ezekiel5Daniel1Zechariah1
Source forms
אָלָ֖ה4x’ā·lāh1 Kings 8:31, 2 Chronicles 6:22, Ezekiel 16:59, Ezekiel 17:18
אָלָה֙2x’ā·lāhIsaiah 24:6, Jeremiah 23:10
בְּאָלָ֣ה2xbə·’ā·lāhNehemiah 10:29, Job 31:30
לְאָלָ֤ה2xlə·’ā·lāhJeremiah 29:18, Jeremiah 42:18
אָלָ֛ה1x’ā·lāhGenesis 26:28
אָלָ֔ה1x’ā·lāhLeviticus 5:1
אָלָ֤ה1x’ā·lāhPsalms 10:7
אָלָ֥ה1x’ā·lāhProverbs 29:24
Parsing patterns
Noun - feminine singular9xGenesis 26:28, Leviticus 5:1, 1 Kings 8:31, Psalms 10:7
Article | Noun - feminine singular6xNumbers 5:21, Deuteronomy 29:14, Deuteronomy 29:19, Deuteronomy 29:20
Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singular5xNumbers 5:21, Numbers 5:27, Jeremiah 29:18, Jeremiah 42:18
Article | Noun - feminine plural3xNumbers 5:23, Deuteronomy 30:7, 2 Chronicles 34:24
Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular3xNehemiah 10:29, Job 31:30, Ezekiel 17:13
Preposition-m | Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular2xGenesis 24:41
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular1xDeuteronomy 29:12
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-m | Noun - feminine singular1xPsalms 59:12
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. Oath or curse involving self-imprecation—invoking divine punishment if one breaks covenant obligations
Source Gloss
an imprecation
Extended definitionSource: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
Oath or curse involving self-imprecation—invoking divine punishment if one breaks covenant obligations
an imprecation BDB: oath Usage: curse, cursing, execration, oath, swearing.
Grammatical Forms
How this word appears across different grammatical cases and numbers.
Selected Scripture Witnesses
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Old Testament Witnesses
Binding oath invoking judgment.
A sworn promise often invoking covenant consequences.
Showing 2 selected witnesses from 36 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
אָלָה is built from this root:
אָלָהH422
Why This Word Matters
The oath highlights accountability and seriousness in covenant renewal.Isaiah 24:1-6
The curse represents covenant sanction unleashed upon transgression.Nehemiah 10:1-39
Canonical Themes
Part of These Phrases
Compound and idiomatic phrases that include this word. Follow a link to study the phrase and how its parts work together.